WESTERVILLE, Ohio – On Thursday, Otterbein Athletics received the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award: College Athletics from Insight Into Academia magazine, the nation's longest-running publication advancing best practices in higher education. Otterbein received the award for the Cardinal Mental Fitness Community (CMFC), a one-of-a-kind program designed exclusively for Cardinal student-athletes to come together to conquer challenges, cultivate resilience, and connect to their inner potential.
This new honor celebrates colleges and universities shaping the future of intercollegiate athletics through forward-thinking programs, initiatives, operations, and partnerships. Areas of innovation include support for the student-athlete success, NIL, education, sports science, performance, community engagement, technology use, and more. Otterbein will be featured in the November 2026 issues of Insight Into Academia magazine.
"What we have built here at Otterbein is truly unique," said Director of Athletics, Dr. Greg Lott. "I am not aware of another situation in collegiate athletics where a department is systematically bringing psychological skill development to all student athletes at scale and offering developmental plans just like athletes are used to getting for technical skill or strength and conditioning training. This award recognizes our commitment to all of our student athlete's mental flourishing."
The Cardinal Mental fitness Community is currently in year three of the initiative, delivering curriculum through ten targeted sessions throughout the school year. The in person sessions cover the science behind a particular psychological construct. Individual reflective prompts and small group conversations about how a concept "shows" up in an individual's sport experience are part of each session, allowing for breakthroughs and realizations that athletes across all sports can connect to. The CMFC provides a unique type of student-athlete support that is not present at other colleges and universities. The community removes many barriers student athletes face in talking about their mental health and gaining skills to promote mental well-being.
"The Insight Into Academia Excellence in Innovation Award: College Athletics recognizes colleges and universities turning bold ideas into meaningful progress in intercollegiate athletics," said Holly Mendelson, co-owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. "We are proud to honor institutions setting a higher standard for what college athletics can achieve—for student-athletes, campuses, and the fans and communities they serve."
To see the full list of 2026 recipients, visit Insight Into Academia.
